Legal Traineeship 2026

Job Description

COPFS is offering the opportunity to undertake a Legal Traineeship based in Grampian Highland and Islands with anticipated start dates commencing September 2026.

The COPFS Legal Traineeship offers a wide range of experience and opportunities in the public prosecution service in Scotland.  You will have the chance to work at either our Aberdeen or Inverness Procurator Fiscals Office.  The traineeship will involve successful candidates undertaking a range of responsibilities, including the preparation and presentation of cases in the Summary courts.  If you successfully complete the traineeship you may enroll as a qualified solicitor in Scotland.

Trainees will have the opportunity to work in Procurator Fiscal’s offices in either Aberdeen or Inverness with travel required to other Grampian Highland and Island offices. You may also spend a proportion of the traineeship working within another government agency.

Working for COPFS

Starting Salary

Year 1 - £32,455 rising to £36,188 in year 2.

Our benefits

We offer an excellent range of benefits which include:

• Generous Civil Service Pension employer contribution, on average over 28.97% of your pay.
• 25 days paid holiday + 11.5 public and privilege holidays (rising to 30 days paid holiday after 4 years).
• Flexible working hours and family friendly approach to work.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loans.
• Employee Wellbeing Support with Mental Health First Aiders and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

Eligibility

• A Scots Law LLB (or an equivalent Honours Degree in other subjects, combined with a degree in Scots Law)
• A valid Diploma in Legal Practice from a Scottish University,
• An Entrance Certificate from the Law Society of Scotland.
• A full UK driving license

Criteria/Assessment

Candidates will be required to demonstrate judgement and competence throughout the assessment process.  This will include a presentation at the interview stage.

Full information on this post is available in the application pack.
 

Closing date
Applications must be submitted by 11.55pm on Tuesday 8th October 2024.

Other Information

Please note a National Traineeship Advert is expected to be advertised on Friday 27th September 2024.

Please also see our full application pack for the behavioural competences which are required for this role. Application packs are available to download from our website ‘current vacancies’ link http://www.copfs.gov.uk/careers.

Selection will be competency based.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

If you require further information, please email Recruitment@copfs.gov.uk

All interviews and any other discussions in the process will be conducted in a virtual/remote setting.

In order to facilitate this way of working, COPFS asks all applicants to ensure that they have a suitable space to participate in the virtual interview and discussions as well as access to a personal device of choice by which you can undertake the interview/assessment if selected. Please ensure that your personal Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity will be sufficient to carry both audio and video.

Please note that COPFS has exemptions from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).

COPFS must also adhere to strict Civil Service and Cabinet Office Baseline Personnel Security Standards regarding nationality, identity and history verification rules.